Flashlight with camera access: Symantec warns of cell phone permissions | Security

The common scene: when running a new mobile application for the first time, the software asks for authorization to access the camera, the microphone and even the record of the last calls. Exactly, there is danger: a report by the digital security company Symantec, released by dnetc at first glance, it shows that 45% of Android applications, for example, ask for authorization to know the geographic location of users. On iOS, the index is 25%.

Sensitive information from users would be being requested by some applications, and not so clearly, even without the need for this to work.

Research shows what kind of information your apps have access Photo: Thssius Veloso / dnetcResearch shows what kind of information your apps have access Photo: Thssius Veloso / dnetc

Research shows what kind of information your apps have access Photo: Thssius Veloso / dnetc

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With that, there are important data that can be passed on to the creators of the applications without need. The researchers found an Android flashlight app with more than 10 million downloads, the sole purpose of which is to activate the flash on the phone, which requests access to calls, messages and the camera. Do you really want the developer to have access to this personal information to use a flashlight ?, asks the report.

According to the analysis of the top 100 free apps on the Play Store and App Store, 46% of apps for the Google system ask for access to the smartphone camera, against a quarter of those running on Apple phones.

Two other curious numbers: the 15% of programs for Android that want to collect data from your SMS messages and the 10% that ask for release for your phone calls.

In addition to grants to access smartphone features, the survey also found many applications that had scope for personally identifiable information (PII). E-mail addresses were the most requested: in 48% of iOS applications and 44% for Android analyzed. The user's full name is already shared with one-third of Apple's system apps and three out of ten that run on Google's operating system.

Information that is considered highly personal is also being shared with cell phone programs. 12% of iOS apps and 9% for Android ask for their users' phone number. Not even the home address escaped, 5% of Android apps and 4% of those that run on iOS want to know this information.

Tips to avoid headache

Registering and logging in with Facebook or Google account on the apps can also release permissions that you didn't know about. Symantec does not recommend logging in with social networks, but remember that it is possible to know what network information the application will have access to before registering.

In addition, Facebook allows you to manage the apps that are using data from your account in the Applications and Sites part, within the settings. Google makes the My Account website available to manage these concessions.

Read requests instead of just allowing a start to find out what personal information is being released. It is also important to filter the application's need to have access to some functions. To remove unnecessary permissions, just access Permissions on Android phones and Privacy on iOS devices.

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